Michael Ford, Jr. & The Apache Relay seizes crowd recognition

Rock music streaked with a youthful, punk sound yet thoroughly grounded in bluegrass roots dominated the stage of Rhythm and Brews last week with a striking performance by Michael Ford, Jr. & The Apache Relay. Playing songs from their debut release, 1988 this band proved they are definitely not your typical young singer-songwriters or instrumentalists.

Comprised of Kellen Wenrich, 19, on fiddle, Brett Moore, 20, on mandolin, Michael Harris, 21, on guitar and Michael Ford Jr.,21, lead vocals, the band maintained a highly energetic stage presence complete with head-banging, screaming and the surprise addition of an electric guitar.

The crowd, however, was especially responsive to one song, entitled "Sweet Louisianne." The emotion conveyed across Ford's face as he sang made evident the song's importance to him.

"I wrote it about the wake of fear caused by Hurricane Gustav when it entered the Gulf of Mexico in the Fall of 2008," Ford said. "Sweet Louisianne is my love letter of hope to all my friends and family in Louisiana."

A more upbeat tune entitled "Sugar Cane" brightly professed that Michael Ford, Jr. & The Apache Relay not only know how to captivate audiences with soft, melodic pieces but can bring audience members to their feet with their unprecedented talent and youthful enthusiasm.